chris: we put the first debate to the matthews meter. 12 of our regulars, including john, kelly and howard is mitt romney more likely to break through wednesday night on style points or on substantive arguments? nine say substance. three say style. you voted with the majority. howard, -- >> well, he's got to do it. again, deftly with humor. but he's got to brace the president. he's got to say, look, you're responsible. you're the economic commander in chief. there has not been nearly enough progress and not what you promised. here are five promises you made. you haven't met any of them. why do you deserve another four years, sir, if you haven't done that? that's the case he's got to make in the first debate. chris: well done. john? style is more important, you say. >> i'm on style because of the notion, you have to have a big moment. romney has been reduced in a lot of people's mind to a caricature, given how horrible he's had these last few weeks. i think a moment of either unexpected strength or unexpected empathy or unexpected humanity is the thing that might make people look anew at mi